Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1978

Fonds

Pioneer Researchers Association Oral History Project

Creator

Pioneer Researchers Association

Physical Description

4 cassette tapes; digital copy

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Pioneer Researchers

Scope and Content

Tape 1 Side 1 - Biographical information: lives 2 miles east of Lethbridge. His father, John McD came to Southern Alberta from Illinois in 1908 as a homesteader. His grandparents had moved to Illinois from Pennsylvania. They were a farming family. His parents, John and Julia, were married in Canada, but knew each other in Illinois. Describes his father's early days in southern Alberta. He was a successful farmer until he became involved in raising purebred cattle and got over-extended and suffered heavy losses. He then went into the sheep business. - Information about the sheep grazing leases in the Bellvue area. - Relates a story about trailing sheep from Coaldale to the grazing lease. Side 2 - Continue with trailing sheep to the Pass. - Sheep herding on the leases. - Davidsons' got out of the sheep business in the late 1960's (1968 or 1969). - They had one sheep herder, Old Jo, who worked for them for 25 years. He was originally from Russia and had worked on the railroad for a few years prior to becoming a sheep herder. Information about Old Jo. Tape 2 Side 1 - Agricultural economics: livestock and grain prices. - "Red" purchased the farm from his father around 1948, a time of economic recoveyfor the farmers. Prices doubled almost overnight. - Leases on the Indian Reserve. - Large sheep shearing pen on Chin Coulee: 50-60 thousand head were sheared annually. - Sheep vs Cattle grazing and the animosity between the cattle and sheep ranchers. - Family information: His mother, Julia, was active in Ladies Aid and Women's Institute; his sister, Mary Jane, attended high school in Long Beach; Red was born in Van Haarlem Hospital in April 1913. Dr. Campbell was the attending physican. Relates one of his first memories. - Attended school in Coaldale: enrollment in 1917 was about 36, and a few years later it was about 134. Mentions his teachers and principals. Side 2 - Continue with school days in Coaldale: annual school fair held in the fall where the students participated in academic, horticultural, and sporting events. First place winners received one week of free instruction at the Agricultural College in Raymond. - George Watson's contributions to the Coaldale school system: he taught a class in automotive mechanics (one of the first in the province), woodwork, home economics, music, gymnastics. He felt there was more to education then Jto* academics. He helped to shape his students' morals, attitudes, and outlooks on life. - Coaldale school buses. In the winter they used bobsleds. - Entertainment in Coaldale: Chautauqua, school dances (very unusual for that period), the Dumbbells, Minstrel shows organized locally. - Following grade school, Red attended Agricultural College, then U of A. Lived in residence and recalls it being a wonderful experience. Talks about his courses and university life. Tape 3 Side 1 - He graduated in 1934 during the Depression. Obtained a summer job with an economic survey crew. People were morally depressed: the crops were poor and most farmers were on relief. His impressions of that period. - Returned to school in the fall to get his masters degree. - Sold insurance for 3 years before returning to Coaldale to take over the farm. - Red married in 1938. General information about the farming operation in the 1930's and 1 940's, and his involvement in the community, particularly school board affairs. The old school buildings were condemned and new schools built. One of schools was named for his father. The high school was named for Kate Andrews to commemorate her involvement in the school system. Information about Kate Andrews. - Involvement in the Community Council - a fund raising organization responsible for roads, rural electrification, telephones, community buildings, etc. - He was also a member of the Southern Alberta Conservation Council- a lobbying group for the St. Mary's Dam and the conservation of water. Side 2 - continuation of the Southern Alberta Conservation Council. - Other organizations Red has belonged to: Southern Alberta Co-op, Southern Alberta Sheep Breeders, Alberta Wheat Pool, Alberta Liberal Association, U of C Senate. He provides a little information about each one. - Red ran as an Independent Candidate in 1945. - Red was a member of the Coaldale Little Theatre group. Information about the group and his acting abilities. Information about the theatre's directors. - His opinions about politics. - His wife's hobbies. Tape 4 Side 1 - The family's Indian artifact collection. - Describes the outdoor kiln they have on the farm. - Comments about the family's love for the outdoors: hunting, hiking, fishing. - Red's interests in politics, his philosophy of life, his wonderment at the advances in technology. - Phohibition and bootlegging: story about his father, about Picariello, and about Mark Rogers. Side 2 - Continue with prohibition: Rogers was a Lethbridge resident who bought a farm 4 miles south and 1 mile east of Coaldale to front his bootlegging operation. They would hide the liquor in the silos. A neighbor, just south of Davidson's, was caught bootlegging. - Cameron Ranch: when he was a boy he saw the large sod breaking operation on the ranch. Information about Noble. - Hutterites: Wilson Colony is the oldest in Alberta. Hutterites are excellent farmers and neighbors. - Red is the returning officer for the Lethbridge Constituency. He was appointed in 1 971 . Describes the job, its duties, and the area he is responsible for. See also the Coaldale history book for further information about the Davidson family.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19921008029

Collection

Archive

Less detail